The cargo ship Morning Midas, carrying approximately 3,000 new vehicles, including hundreds of electric and hybrid models, sank on Monday in the North Pacific Ocean. The vessel had been adrift for weeks after a fire broke out onboard that its crew was unable to extinguish. The incident occurred in international waters off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands chain, approximately 415 miles from land.
The London-based Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s management company, confirmed the sinking. The 600-foot Liberian-flagged carrier, built in 2006, had departed Yantai, China, on May 26, en route to a major Pacific port in Mexico when the fire erupted. (CNN, CBS News)
The U.S. Coast Guard first received a distress alert on June 3, 2025, reporting a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which was then roughly 300 miles (490 kilometers) southwest of Adak Island. All 22 crew members safely evacuated to a lifeboat and were subsequently rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel, with no injuries reported. Initial observations indicated a large plume of smoke emanating from the ship’s stern, specifically from a deck loaded with electric vehicles. (CBS News)
The sinking on Monday was attributed to a combination of extensive fire damage, adverse weather conditions, and water seepage. The vessel now rests in waters over 16,400 feet (approximately 5,000 meters) deep. The cargo included about 70 fully electric vehicles and approximately 680 hybrid vehicles, though some reports indicated up to 800 electric vehicles in total. It remains unclear if any of the vehicles were removed before the ship went down. (New York Post)
Environmental concerns are paramount following the sinking. Petty Officer Cameron Snell, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson based in Alaska, stated that there was “no visible pollution” immediately after the sinking. The Morning Midas reportedly had 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil onboard. Zodiac Maritime has deployed two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control equipment to remain on scene and monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. An additional specialized pollution response vessel is also en route as a precautionary measure. (CBS News)
This incident reignites discussions within the shipping industry regarding the safe transport of electric vehicles, particularly due to the highly flammable nature of their lithium-ion batteries. A similar event occurred in 2023 when the cargo ship Felicity Ace, carrying thousands of luxury cars including nearly 500 electric vehicles, caught fire and sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Experts involved in that salvage operation suggested that the large quantity of lithium batteries likely contributed to the fire’s intensity and prolonged duration. A Dutch safety board’s recent report has called for improved emergency response protocols on North Sea shipping routes in light of such incidents. (New York Post)
The U.S. Coast Guard is working in an advisory capacity with Zodiac Maritime to ensure a swift and effective response to any potential pollution. The safety of responders remains a top priority as monitoring efforts continue in the remote Pacific waters. (CBS News)
